Chime signal device



May 21, 1957 M. ROSEMAN CHIME SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 34 & v 5% 336 INVENTOR- Roan MAN MICHAEL May 21, 1957 Filed Oct. 24, 1955 I I 5 I r I, III a I rlplprllll I a Shets-Sheet 2 kfl Ei *5/ .Z-Z 7.. 7 j I 6 IIIIIIIIIIII7iII/I 7 9 Z5 ff 44 66 ,1 r 9 M 52 36 I 36 46 n l PI 35 47 I J5 9? 57 W 2 i4 kiwi? j za I a; 46

III II Z5 7 INVENTOR.

MICHAEL ROSEMAN y 1, 1957 M. RosEMAN CHIME SIGNAL DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001:. 24, 1955 mmvroa MICHAEL Rosg: MAN

United States Patent "0,

CHlME SIGNAL DEVICE Michael Roseman, New York, N. Y. Application October 24, 1955, Serial No. 542,329 11 Claims. (Cl. 116-141) This invention relates to signaling devices and, more particularly, to a musical chime signal construction for providing chime-like sound effects of pleasing tonal quality and adapted for use as door announcers at the entrances of homes, stores or the like.

Many chime signals are presently in use but are subject to frequent failure, relying mainly on two springs under pressure at all times. The springs are subject to fatigue requiring frequent repairs. The present invention is designed to avoid this difliculty providing a construction that is seldom in need of repair.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a door chime construction that emits the desired musical tone or tones.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chime construction that emits successive musical tones.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dependable, quick, and double-acting chime striking mechanism in which operating noises and interference with tone emission are eliminated.

Still another object is to provide a chime construction of this kind that is compact and durable, well adapted to meet the rigors of varied manual actuation, and yet consistently emitting the desired musical tone or tones.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chime signal construction embodying my invention shown mounted on a panel.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof showing the striking mechanism in normal inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the striker actuating mechanism partly moved to operative position by the actuating lever.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the striker actuating mechanism moved farther toward operative position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, with an actuating lever being shown in dash lines.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but looking in the opposite direction to the arrows of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 88 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a chime signal construction made in accordance with the invention, indicated generally at 20, is shown mounted on a wooden panel 21 which may represent part of a door or the like. The chime signal mechanism is housed in a box-like I 2,792,805 Patented May 21, 19 57 container or casing 22 formed of plastic or other suitable material having a front wall 23, top and bottom walls 24 and 25, respectively, and side walls 26. The container is open at the rear. Angular wall portions 27 and 28 extend upwardly and downwardly from the top and bottom walls 24 and 25, respectively, and each has an opening 29 to receive a fastening member such as a nail 30 for fastening the container to the panel. The outer surfaces of the front wall 23 may be decorated as indiated at 31.

The sound producing mechanism is completely enclosed within the container 22 and includes vibratory elements adapted to be energized to produce a chime-like signal. In the illustrated form of the invention, two such chimelike sound producing elements are employed, preferably differently dimensioned, in order to produce notesof different pitch, and which are in the form of metal strips or plates 32 and 33 mounted on the inner surfaces of the side walls 26 forwardly of the longitudinal center of the container so that they are positioned forwardly of the container. The stripsor plates 32 and 33 are spaced from each other and from the side walls of the container in parallel relation, and each plate is mounted on a pair of metal crimping lugs 34 projecting inwardly from the edges of metal brackets 35 anchored in slotted sockets 36 formed integrally with the inner surfaces of the side walls 26 and projecting slightly inwardly thereof. The lugs 34 are encased in flanged rubber or rubber-like sleeves 37 that extend through spaced openings 38 formed in the metal plates 32 and 33 whereby the plates are mounted in vibratory fashion. Plate 32 is slightly longer than plate 33 and of a different pitch. While the plates are preferably made of metal, it will be understood that any material capable of producing chime notes of different pitch may be used.

Upon being successively struck or set in vibration by striker elements, the vibratory metal strips or plates 32 and 33 will resonate to produce chime notes, the sound effects of which are preferably amplified, as hereinafter described. There is a striker element 39 associated with the strip or plate 32 and a similar striker element 40 associated with strip or plate 33. The striker elements are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the container, centrally of the plates 32 and 33 and at opposite ends of the container.

The striker elements 39 and 40 are each of similar construction and arrangement and each consists of a bell crank lever device 41 formed of thin spring bar metal and having a long arm 42 and a short arm 43. Each lever device is pivotally mounted on a socketed post 44 formed integrally with and extending re-arwardly from the front wall 23 of the container 22 and spaced slightly from the adjacent end wall. A metal pivot pin 45 is mounted in the post 44 and extends rearwardly thereof and through perforations in opposed perforated wing portions 46 formed on the long arm 42 of the bell crank lever device adjacent its connection with the short arm 43. The long arm 42 is formed with an extension 47 which slants toward the center of the container and then parallel to the end walls thereof, which extension carries a hammer head 48 with a pointer 49 facing and being positioned adjacent metal strip or plate 32 or 33. A coil spring 50 encircles each pivot pin 45 between the wings 46. The convolution of the spring at one end thereof is extended tangentially thereof as indicated at 51, the free end of the extension 51 pressing against the long arm 42 of the bell crank lever and urging it toward the adjacent vibratory plate 32 or 33. The end convolution of the coil spring 50 at the opposite end thereof is similarly formed with an extension 52 which impinges against a pin 53 on the inner surface of and formed integrally with the front wall 23 of the container and projecting rearwardly thereof. The short arm 43 of the bell crank I lever engages the outer surface of pin 53 normally holding the bell crank lever against pivotal movement.

The spring extension 51 is held against displacement on the long arm 42 of the bell crank lever bya lug 54 outstruck from one edge of said long arm. The bell crank lever is arranged so that its long arm extends parallel to the adjacent side wall of the container and its short arm 43 extends parallel to the adjacent end wall thereof.

Mechanism in common is p-rovidedfor tripping the bell crank lever devices 41, 41 successively. This mechanism includes an elongated bar 55 preferably of the same material as the container 22 and being channel-shaped in cross section. Bar 55 extends longitudinally of the container between the striker elements 39 and 4G and is supported spaced from the inner surface of the front wall 23 and is longitudinally slidable on the outer end edge of a short socketed post 56 extending rearwardly of the front wall 23 adjacent the bottom end thereof. The bar is guided in its movement by a headed guide pin 57 mounted in the post 56 and extending rearwardly through a slot 58 in the bar 55 adjacent itsbottom end. A pin 59 extending rearwardly from the front Wall 23 adjacent the upper end of the bar and positioned alongside the same assists in guiding the movements of the bar. A pin 60 extending downwardly from a wall 61 closing the bottom end of the bar limits the downwardly movement of the bar by engaging the bottom wall 25 of the container.

Another bar 62. constructed similarly to bar 55 but shorter in length is slidably mounted in the top of the container. The bar 62 is disposed in closely spacedparallel relationship with the bar 55, with its bottom end over lapping the top end of the bar 55. Bar 62 slides on a trackway 63 extending along the inner surface of the front wall 23 and is guided in its movement by a headed guide pin 64 extending rearwardly of the trackway and through a slot 65 formed in the bar 62. A cotter pin 66 rigidly connects the overlapping top and bottom ends of the bars 55 and 62, respectively, in spaced relation.

Simultaneous movement is imparted to the bars 55 and 62 by means of a bell crank lever 67 pivotally supported on a pivot pin 68 mounted across perforated lugs 69 formed midway the ends of a plate or bridge member 70 disposed across the container 22 between the side walls 26 thereof, forwardly of the rear ends of the side walls and rearwa-rdly cf the metal plates 32 and 33. One arm 71 of the bell crank lever extends through a slot 72 formed in the plate or bridge member 7% forwardly to the space between the overlapping ends of the bars 55 and 62 where the cotter pin 66 passes through an opening formed in the interposed free end thereof for moving the cotter pin and attached bars 55 and 62 up and down. The other arm 73 of the bell crank lever 67 extends upwardly and parallel to the front wall 23 and is formed with a notch 74 adjacent its free top end for receiving and interlocking the inner end of a push-button-actuated lever '75 extending rearwardly of the container and through an opening (not shown) in the panel 21 for actuating the bell crank lever 67.

A flat metal actuating bar 80 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 81 extending rearwardly from a tubular 'socketed post 82 formed integrally with the bar 55 at its bottom end and to one side thereof. The bar 30 is formed with an enlarged and triangular-shaped bottom end 83 through which the pivot pin extends, said pin being disposed ofiset from the center'of said end 83. The top end of the actuating bar curves to one side of the bar 55 and terminates in an offset enlarged portion 84 serving as a weight for retracting the actuating bar 80 to normal position. A ledge 85 formed on the bottom end wall 86 of the bar 55 extends rearwardly thereof to one side of pin 31 and engages the bottom end edge of the bar 80 at one-side of the pin for preventing pivotal movement of said bar Sit in a clockwise direction but permitting move-.

4 and 4. The bottom end edge of the bar 80, on the other side of pin 81, projects over the free end of the short arm 43 of the adjacent bell crank lever so that said short arm is in the path of movement of said bar 86 and the bell crank lever is adapted to be tripped thereby.

Another actuating bar 90 of substantially the same construction as actuating bar is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 91 extending rearwardly from a tubular socket post 92 formed integrally with the bar 62 at its top end and to one side thereof. The bar 90 is formed with an enlarged and triangular-shaped upper end 93 through which the pivot pin 91 extends, said pin being disposed oifset from the center of said end 93. The bottom end of the bar 99 curves slightly to one side of the sliding bar 62 in the direction of the striker element, at the top of the container and terminates in an offset enlarged portion 94 which serves as a weight for retracting the actuating bar 91 to normal position. A ledge 95 formed on the top end wall 960i the sliding bar 62 extends rearwardly thereof to one side of the pivot pin 91 and engages the top edge of the enlarged end 93 at one side of the pin 91 for preventing pivotal movement of the actuating bar 90 in a clockwise direction but permitting movement thereof in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and .4. The top edge of the bar 9%? on the other side of the pin 91 projects over the free end of the short arm 43 of the top bell crank lever 4.5. so that said short arm is positioned in the path of movement of said projecting end of the actuating bar 9i and the upper bell crank lever 41 is adapted to be tripped thereby.

A compression spring 98 having one end secured to the upper pin 53 and its other end anchored to the forwarding extending arm 71 to the bell crank lever 6'7 yieldingly holds the sliding bars '55 and 62 and associated parts in upward normal position as shown in Fig. 3.

In operation, the lever 75 is manually pushed inwardly by the operator thereby tilting the bell crank lever 67, moving the arm 73 thereof inwardly of the container 22 and moving its arm 71 downwardly of the container catrying the bars 55 and 62 and associated parts therealong. Upon this downward movement of the bar 55, the actuating bar 80 carried thereby is moved downwardly against the free end of the short arm 43 of the bell crank lever 41 of the bottom striker element 40 and due to the rigid connection between the bar 80 and the ledge pivotal movementof the actuating bar 8b in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 is prevented whereby said bar 89 forces said short arm 4-3 downwardly away from pin 53 and tilts the bell crank lever inwardly in a clockwise direction thereby carrying the hammer head 48 thereof inwardly away from the associated vibratory plate 33 against the action of spring extension 51.

Continued downward movement of the sliding bar 55 forces the overlapping portion of bottom end 83 of the bar 80 off of the freeend of the short arm 43 and downwardly therebelow and clear thereof as shown in Fig. 5 thereby permitting the spring extension 51 to operate and tilt the bell crank lever in an anti-clockwise direction and sling the hammer 48 with its pointer 49 against thevibratory plate 32 with a resounding hammer blow.

The upper bar 62 is carried down simultaneously with the bar 55 thereby carrying the enlarged end 93 of bar 99 downwardly whereby the slanting edge thereof cams against the projecting free end of the short arm 43 of the bell cranklever 41 of the top striker element 39. The bell crank lever is held against movement in an anticlockwise direction by the engagement of the short arm 43 thereof against the pin 53 but the bar pivots around pin 91 in an anti-clockwise direction permitting the top end 93 of the bar 90 to be carried below the free end of the short arm 43 as shown in Fig. 5. The weighted free end 94 of the bar 90 causes said bar to swing back to normal position seated against the ledge with the prote ti f e a at the sh rten ,t t t in r and in the path of upward movement of the projecting end 93 of bar 90 as shown in Fig. 5.

When manual pressure on the push-button-actuatedlever 75 is released, the sliding bars 55 and 62 and associated parts are pulled upwardly by the compression spring 95 acting upon bell crank lever 67. Upward movement of the bar 55 carries the slanting or camming edge of the enlarged end 83 of the actuating bar 80 against the free end of the short arm 43 of the bottom bell crank lever 41 whereby said actuating bar is pivoted around its pin 81 in an anti-clockwise direction permitting the bar so to be moved above said short arm 43 where it is retracted to normal seated position on the ledge 85 by the enlarged portion 84 thereof.

Simultaneous upward movement of the sliding bar 62 forces the underlapping projecting end portion of the upper enlarged end 93 of the actuating bar 96 against the free end of the short arm 43 of the bell crank lever 41 of the top striker element 39 thereby forcing said short arm 43 away from the top pin 53 and tilting the bell crank lever in a clockwise direction carrying its hammer head 43 with its pointer 49 inwardly away from its associated vibratory plate 33. Continued upward movement causes the free end of the short arm 43 to slide downwardly along the slanting edge of the top end 93 permitting the spring extension 51 of the top bell crank lever 41 to pivot the bellcrank lever in an anti-clockwise direction and sling the hammer head 48 with pointer 49 against the associated vibratory plate 32 with a resounding hammer blow. During this latter movement of the bell crank lever, the enlarged end portion 94 of the bar 9% retracts said bar to normal position against the ledge 95. The chime sounds caused by the striking of the vibratory plates escape through latticed openings '97 in the side walls 26 of the container 22 which amplify and improve the sound effects.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a signaling device having spaced vibratory sounding plates, separate striker units for striking said sounding plates, each striker unit including a pivoted springpressed bell crank lever, means in common for successively operating said bell crank levers including slidable bars between said bell crank levers, pivotal bars carried by said slidable bars and arranged to operate successively on said bell crank levers, and manual means for sliding said slidable bars.

2. In a signaling device having spaced vibratory sounding plates, separate striker units for striking said sounding plates, each striker unit including a pivoted springpressed bell crank lever, means in common for successively operating said bell crank levers including slidable bars between said bell crank levers, pivotal bars carried by said slidable bars and arranged to operate successively on said bell crank levers, a pivoted bell crank lever having one of its arms connected to said slidable bars, and manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever.

3. A manually-actuated, audible signaling device adapted for mounting on a door panel and the like having an opening therein comprising a sound producing unit adapted for mounting on one side of said panel, said unit including a container having side walls vibratably mounting sounding elements and having a front wall pivotally mounting strikers for said sounding elements together with means in common for actuating said strikers including sliding bars carrying pivotally supported operating members, means for manually actuating said sliding bars from the other side of said panel, said last- 6 mentioned means including a slidable lever extending through the opening in said panel and being interlocked with a movable part of said sound producing unit.

4. In a signaling device having spaced vibratory sounding plates, separate striker units for striking said sounding plates, each striker unit including a pivoted bell crank lever, means in common for successively operating said bell crank levers including slidable bars between said bell crank levers, said slidable bars being arranged parallel with adjacent ends in spaced overlapping relation, pivotal bars carried by said slidable bars and arranged to operate successively on said bell crank levers, a pivoted bell crank lever having one of its arms connected to said slidable bars, and manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever, the connection between said slidable bars and latter bell crank lever including a cotter pin extending across the overlapping ends of the slidable bars and through one arm of said latter bell crank lever.

5. In a signaling device having spaced vibratory sounding plates, separate striker units for striking saidsounding plates, each striker unit including a spring-pressed pivoted bell crank lever carrying a hammer head, means in common for successively operating said bell crank levers including slidable bars between said bell crank levers, said slidable bars being arranged parallel with adjacent ends in spaced overlapping relation, pivotal bars carried by said slidable bars and arranged to operate successively on said bell crank levers, a pivoted bell crank lever having one of its arms connected to said slidablef bars in the space between said overlapped ends, and manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever including a manually operated lever interlocked with the, latter bell crank lever.

6. In a signaling device having spaced vibratory sounding plates, separate striker units for striking said sounding plates, each striker unit including a spring-pressed pivoted bell crank lever carrying a hammer head, means in common for successively operating said bell crank levers including slidable bars between said bell crank levers, said slidable bars being arranged parallel with adjacent ends in spaced overlapping relation, pivotal bars carried by said slidable bars and arranged to operate successively on said bell crank levers, a pivoted bell crank lever having one of its arms connected to said slidable bars in the space between said overlapped ends, and manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever including a manually operated lever interlocked with the latter bell crank lever for moving said slidable bars in one direction and spring means for automatically moving said slidable bars in the opposite direction upon release of manual pressure.

7. In a signaling device having spaced vibratory sounding plates, separate striker units for striking said sounding plates, each striker unit including a spring-pressed pivoted bell crank lever carrying a hammer head, means in common for successively operating said bell crank levers including slidable bars between said bell crank levers, said slidable bars being arranged parallel with adjacent ends in spaced overlapping relation, pivotal bars carried by said slidable bars and arranged to operate successively on said bell crank levers, a pivoted bell crank lever having one of its arms connected to said slidable bars in the space between said overlapped ends, and manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever, the connection between said slidable bars and latter bell crank lever including a cotter pin extending across the overlapping ends of the slidable bars and through one arm of said latter bell crank lever, said manual actuating means in cluding a manually operated lever interlocked with the other arm of said last-named bell crank lever.

8. in a signaling device having spaced vibratory sounding plates, separate striker units for striking said sounding plates, each striker unit including a spring-pressed pivoted bell crank lever carrying a hammer head, means in common for successively operating said bell crank levers including slidable bars between said bell crank levers, said slidable bars being arranged parallel with adjacent ends in spaced overlapping relation, pivotal bars carried by said slidable bars and arranged to operate successively on said bell crank levers, a pivoted bell crank lever having one of its arms connected to said slidable bars, and manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever, the connection between said slidable bars and latter bell crank lever including a cotter pin extending across the overlapping ends of the slidable bars and through one arm of said latter bell crank lever.

9. In a signaling device having spaced vibratory sounding plates, separate striker units for striking said sounding plates, each striker unit including a pivoted bell crank lever, means in common for successively operating said bell crank levers including slidable bars between said bell crank levers, said slidable bars being arranged parallel with adjacent ends in spaced overlapping relation, pivotal bars carried by said slidable bars and arranged to operate successively on said bell crank levers, a pivoted bell crank lever having one of its arms connected to said slidable bars, and manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever, the connection between said slidable bars and latter bell crank lever including a cotter pin extending through the overlapped ends of the slidable bars and through one arm of said latter bell crank lever, said manual actuating means including a manually operated lever interlocked with the other arm of said last-named bell crank lever.

10. A signaling device comprising a casing having front and side walls and a plate member bridging said side walls, metal sounding plates vibratably mounted on the inner surfaces of said side walls, separate striker units mounted w pivotally mounted on said bridging plate member and having one of its arms connected to said slidable bars,

.and manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever, the connection between said slidable bars and the latter bell crank lever including a cotter pin extending through the overlapped ends of the slidable bars and through one arm of said latter bell crank lever.

11. A signaling device comprising a casing having a front and side walls and a plate member bridging said side walls, metal sounding plates vibratably mounted on the inner surfaces of said side walls, separate striker units mounted on the inner surface of the front wall for striking said sounding plates, each striker unit including a spring-pressed bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the front wall and carrying a hammer head, means in common for successively operating said bell crank levers including bars slidably mounted on the front wall between said bell crank levers, said slidable bars being arranged parallel, with adjacent ends in spaced overlapping relation, pivotal bars carried by said slidable bars and arranged to operate successively on said bell crank levers, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said bridging plate member, and having one of its arms connected to said slidable bars, and manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever, the connection between said slidable bars and the latter bell crank lever including a cotter pin extending through the overlapped ends of the slidable bars and through the connected arm of said latter bell crank lever, the manual means for actuating the latter bell crank lever including a manually operated lever interlocked with the other arm of the last-named bell crank lever for moving said slidable bars in one direction and a compression spring having one end anchored to a stationary part of the front wall of the casing and its other end fastened to said connected armof the last-named bell crank lever for automatically moving the slidable bars in the opposite direction upon release of manual pressure thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,465,655 Miller Mar. 29, 1949 

